Dwm.exe (Aero/Desktop Composition) lag - has anyone figured this out?

[highpec]

This is a common problem with Windows 7 that I've researched for many many hours and still cannot find a solution.

After a while, sometimes just minutes, dwm.exe causes all Windows to lag. It seems to happen more frequently when you're doing something for example in a browser that has hardware acceleration enabled.

How you can tell it's happening:

• When you switch tabs on browser, it feels sluggish, like low frames.
• Grab an icon on the desktop and move it around, it will move like Windows is running at 10fps.

Temporary fixes:

• "Shake" a Window... any window, and it will temporarily fix the issue. But it comes back quickly.
• Restart dwm.exe (uxsms) service. This works, but any open windows will lose their preview thumbnail and be returned to a default (non-preview) thumbnail until you open them again.

Permanent fixes:

• - Disable Aero / Desktop Composition - Yes, this actually works. But I use a custom Windows 10 (for Win7) theme, and disabling Desktop Composition breaks it on certain programs like Chrome. But this does prove that it's something to do with DWM (desktop composition) / Aero in Windows 7.

What some people recommend:

• Going into Nvidia 3D settings and adding "dwm.exe" and "explorer.exe" and setting them to "Prefer Maximum Performance".

This tricks you into thinking it's working, but if you keep using it long enough, the issue will indeed come back even with this setting. Also, this forces your GPU to run at 100% clock at all times, which makes it run hotter than if it was set on Adaptive (which is the windows default graphics settings for those applications).

For example, even when I'm browsing in Chrome with hardware accel on, even if I have 10 YouTube videos all open at once playing (for testing purposes), my GPU only uses ~200mhz in Adaptive mode. Windows graphical interference does not require a lot of GPU resources and it makes no sense to have to have it running at 100% clock at all times.

Also, this isn't a hardware issue...
i7-8700k
32gb DDR-3200mhz
Nvidia GTX 980ti
Samsung 960 EVO M.2 NVMe
Kraken x62 AIO Water cooling on processor

My temps never exceed 30C at idle and 55C under heavy load. There's something about DWM.exe that causes this lag. Also, this isn't a "DWM too high CPU" or "DWM too high memory" thread... DWM for me doesn't take up hardly any CPU, and doesn't take up hardly any memory.

Surely there must be some way to fix this.

 

[iko22]

Dwm.exe lagging is a common problem. I have seen this on my modestly older computer. Two things I have tried, that you had not mentioned:

• Check the settings in mouse device for pointer options. Search box > Type Mouse, then click on result > Select pointer options tab, then set "select a pointer speed" to fast.
• Install and run a PC optimizer program. Especially, if your computer has been updated regularly. I find this type of software to be quite efficient at ironing out the creases in performance lags.

 

[highpec]

Dwm.exe lagging is a common problem. I have seen this on my modestly older computer. Two things I have tried, that you had not mentioned:

• Check the settings in mouse device for pointer options. Search box > Type Mouse, then click on result > Select pointer options tab, then set "select a pointer speed" to fast.
• Install and run a PC optimizer program. Especially, if your computer has been updated regularly. I find this type of software to be quite efficient at ironing out the creases in performance lags.

The problem is -- I'm not running an old computer, I'm running an i7-8700k, 32 gb ddr-3200 ram, and a GTX 980ti. There's something built into Windows 7 causing this issue. I wonder if it still exists in Windows 10. As much as I love Windows 7, if I can't solve this issue I'd seriously consider getting Win10 Pro and disabling all the bloatware etc... because, it's happening more and more and more. Every few minutes when I'm working I have to "shake" a window to fix it.

 

[Megahertz07]

As you probably know, M$ is trying to kill Win 7. There is a update that detects Kaby and Coffee lake CPU's and then prevents updates. Unofficial Patch Unblocks Windows 7 and 8.1 Updates for Kaby Lake, Ryzen - ExtremeTech

As soon as I install Win 7, I disable Aero and turn on Classic. Aero demands more resources and it's only fireworks.
If you can't live without Aero, move to Win 10.
You don't need to buy a License. Use win 7 pro license.
Install Classic Shell: Downloads and Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows

 

[highpec]

As you probably know, M$ is trying to kill Win 7. There is a update that detects Kaby and Coffee lake CPU's and then prevents updates. Unofficial Patch Unblocks Windows 7 and 8.1 Updates for Kaby Lake, Ryzen - ExtremeTech

As soon as I install Win 7, I disable Aero and turn on Classic. Aero demands more resources and it's only fireworks.
If you can't live without Aero, move to Win 10.
You don't need to buy a License. Use win 7 pro license.
Install Classic Shell: Downloads and Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows

Yea, the only Windows 10 version I'd use is Windows 10 LTSB. No Cortana, no automatic updates, no bloatware. There's an easy fix for the unsupported processor but honestly I don't do many updates anyways -- I know how to stay safe without them.

 

[laidbacktokyo]

highpec

May I ask you to confirm if dwm.exe issues of win7 like lagging or other are same if you'll make a clean install of the latest 2018 NVidia driver for gtx 980ti as below:

http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/135674/en-us

Version: 398.36 WHQL Release Date: 2018.6.26 Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 8 64-bit CUDA Toolkit: Language: English (US) File Size: 434.86 MB


Thank you.

 

[highpec]

Wow, I think after all this time, I think I finally fixed the issue.

Dual Monitors Windows 7 Problems

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM\Schedule]
"FrameRateMin"=dword:0000003c

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Avalon.Graphics]
"Force10Level9"=dword:00000001

For FrameRateMin...

0000003c = 60, if you run your monitors are 60hz.
00000078 = 120, if you run at 120hz.
00000090 = 144, if you run at 144hz.

You'll have to add the DWM keys. But since adding these keys and restarting, I haven't had a single DWM lag for the entire. I REALLY hope this is the solution...

 

[RyomaFV]

Dwm.exe (Aero/Desktop Composition) la

I'm having this same issue with a single monitor setup (144 hz). Same issues. It fixes for a while if I shake a window. Did anyone was able to fix this with the pointed reg keys? I know it's an aero Issue, but I'm not sure if moving to windows 10 will fix it. I know 7 is old as hell at this point, but 10 is still very problematic and DWM keeps messing up with it up to this point. My setup is the following:

Intel Core i7 3770
Corsair Vengeance 2x8 1600
Viewsonic XG 2402 connected via DP
Nvidia GTX 1660 ti

This was the only post I found that describes the exact issues I'm having. I hope someone remembers something about this and help me.

 

[laidbacktokyo]

u can try to read thru this my anchient thread if applicable:
HELP NEEDED! Win7 DWM.EXE issues upon install any m$ rollup of 2018
anyhow I can suggest to install this utility:
Quick CPU - Real time performance optimization and Sensor monitor
pls install & apply QuickCPU power scheme - it's surely z sophisticated stuff of CPU power management with a billion of the commonly hidden parameters - then you can turn off utility itself @ windows startup, also if no effect on your particular issue u can always switch back to any of the standard windows power plans